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GCSE Geography · key term
The vertical difference in height between successive contour lines.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Revise: Coordinates, Scale and Distance in OS MapsThe contour interval is the vertical height difference between neighbouring contours. It is commonly 5 m or 10 m, but check the interval on the map you are using. For example, with a 10 m interval, consecutive contours above a labelled 100 m line represent 110 m, 120 m and so on.
Specification 1.2, 1.14 · Paper 1
The vertical difference in height between adjacent contour lines.
Read contour labels and the contour interval before describing height. Widely spaced contours indicate gentle slopes, not necessarily flat land.
Check the contour interval rather than assuming it is always 10 m.
Check the contour interval in the map key. Do not assume that every map extract uses the same interval.
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Check the contour interval, the vertical difference between adjacent lines. On 1:25,000 OS maps it is 5 m and/or 10 m; on 1:50,000 maps it is 10 m. For a constructed example with a 10 m interval, a labelled 100 m contour followed uphill by two successive contours gives heights of 110 m and 120 m.
Paper 2
The difference in height between neighbouring contour lines.
Revise: Map Skills: Locating and Identifying UK FeaturesTransfer this method to an actual OS extract by checking its own key and contour interval first. The sketch demonstrates how to combine evidence; it does not show a real surveyed location or provide practice with the full range of OS symbols.
Specification 9.1 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
The vertical difference in height between neighbouring contour lines.
Revise: Fundamental OS Map Skills: Scale, Coordinates and ReliefThe contour interval is the vertical difference between neighbouring contours. Contours commonly use intervals of 5 m or 10 m, but check the map’s information. With a 10 m interval, successive contours might be 100 m, 110 m and 120 m.